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Little Joe

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Little Joe

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Summary

Alice, a single mother and a senior plant breeder at a corporation engaged in developing new species, works with a group of scientists to create a plant via genetic engineering which appears to have strange effects on the people and animals it comes into contact with. Sci-fi horror, starring Emily Beecham, Ben Whishaw and Kerry Fox

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Review

A star rating of 3 out of 5.

Calum Baker

It may or may not be the end of the world as we know it in Jessica Hausner's ambiguous Frankenstein tale. Botanist Alice (Emily Beecham) cuts corners while developing a plant intended as the ultimate natural antidepressant, and soon its pollen affects her colleagues and her son, Joe (Kit Connor). However, the victims of Alice's experiment (dubbed "Little Joe") seem only subtly changed: more serene and confident, they are also fiercely protective of their "mother". Could Little Joe in fact be a force for good? This ethical vagueness is key to the film's disquieting satire, all ably conveyed through Hausner's characteristically controlled direction. The stilted tone will not be to all tastes, but the apt blend of striking colour palettes, Teiji Ito's dissonant music and Martin Gschlacht's creeping camerawork contribute to this involving mystery. Beecham carries the drama with a committed, earnest performance, while Ben Whishaw and Kerry Fox are excellent as her fellow scientists. This modern pharmaceutical twist on the "body snatcher" subgenre makes for thoughtful, if uneven, viewing.

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5.8/10

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Credits

Cast

rolenameAlice WoodardEmily BeechamChrisBen WhishawBellaKerry FoxJoe WoodardKit ConnorKarlDavid WilmotRicPhénix BrossardPsychotherapistLindsay DuncanIvanSebastian Hülk

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Crew

rolenameDirectorJessica Hausner

Details

Theatrical distributor

BFI Distribution

Released on

2020-02-21

Languages

English

Guidance

violence, swearing

Formats

Colour

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